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10/15/2017

I am writing this from week two of the North Bay Firestorm. We are incredibly grateful that we are safe and our home is still standing. It is an extremely difficult and heartbreaking disaster that is unfortunately, far from over.

06/07/2016

The posts for the Mini Maker's Guide to Summer Fun have all been so awesome! I can't wait to try all of the rad ideas! (You can find them all here.) My contribution to this fab line up is a DIY Bug Hotel.

This is a great way to create a home for beneficial insects and an excuse to use power tools (although I offer ideas if you'd rather skip that bit). It gets the kids outside, not just to gather the materials and make the craft, but to check in and observe the inhabitants! We have only had it in place for a week and it's already become my go-to suggestion if I want to encourage the boys to play outside. "Why don't you check on the bug hotel?" does the trick every time.

The simplest version of this project can be completed with a cinder block stuffed full of things you likely already have lying around the garden. But if you're feeling ambitious, you can bust out the power tools and take the making to the next level. If you are comfortable using a drill and you have school-aged children I encourage you to let them help with this. Kids feel empowered and have so much fun using real tools. Of course it's important to provide instruction and supervision, but the long summer days are the perfect time to dive into a power tool project.

First you'll want to gather supplies, we didn't go any further than our neighbor's yard to find what we needed. Straw, small sticks, bark, logs, pine cones, and pieces of bamboo all make great filling for bug accommodations.

If you like you can simply gather these supplies and stuff them into the holes of a cinder block, a section of large diameter pipe, or even an old garden pot. But if you want to make a deluxe hotel you'll first need to make a box! We used some plywood scraps that we had around to create ours. Use self-driving screws (or good old hammer and nails) to put it together. To help our box survive the elements we gave the outside a nice coat of exterior paint.

Next you'll want to prep your logs, first by cutting them to the width of your box, then by drilling holes in them. If you are hoping to create a home for native mason bees use a 5/16" drill bit. The trick to drilling these holes safely is to hold the log firmly between your feet and apply gentle even pressure with the drill. Jude got the hang of it right away!

Now comes the part that every one can get in on: filling your box with stuff! I used twine to create bundles out of the straw and bamboo but otherwise we just kept shoving stuff in until is was full.

Once you're finished with the filling it's ready to be installed in the garden! We set ours on an old outdoor side table so that the kids could easily observe it. Hanging it would be another great option. If you don't have one near by, be sure to provide a water source. Ours is just a plastic platter filled with a few stones and an inch or so of water.

Then just sit back and wait for your guests to arrive.

Your garden and your kids are sure to be very happy!

Here's hoping your summer is extra fabulous! You and your mini makers are sure to have lots of fun new ideas to try! Remember, we will be using the hashtag #makingsummerfun all summer long, please join in when you make something! I'd love to see what inspired you and I'm sure you've got your own great ideas to share!

As I've mentioned before, I bring Ronan to work with me. I feel very fortunate to work for the family business, which makes bringing my little one to work possible. However, it is an office setting and I must actually get work done, including making phone calls. It wasn't too hard to manage this when Ronan was a baby, but now that he is a very busy toddler, I've had to get creative.

I put together is simple, open-ended busy box and it has been a big hit. Although in all honesty I'm pretty sure half the fun lies in the nifty NEW Rubbermaid® fasten + go Sandwich Kit I packaged it in. This sleek kit snaps together in a perfectly organized bundle and even has a removable carrying strap. Ronan loves snapping the smaller containers together like a little puzzle. I love that it is BPA free and nests together for compact storage.

This fun busy box is a great toddler activity. It keeps them occupied and learning without a huge mess. Plus, you can put it together quickly with just a few simple supplies. This kit has everything you toddler needs to create bracelets made by stringing straw beads onto pipe cleaners, an excellent fine motor activity. As well as a color matching game, where pom poms can be matched up with felt shapes; a wonderful lesson in colors and pre-math skills. Finally, all of the supplies lend themselves to imaginative exploration. Perhaps your toddler will enjoy pouring the straw beads from one container to another or trying to find other matching shapes and colors from around the room.

I hope this fun kit helps you keep your little one busy! Starting on 12/27/15 head to your local Target store to purchase the NEW Rubbermaid® fasten + go kits! Available in Entree, Sandwich, and Soup Kits! If you're looking for more simple toddler ideas, check out this DIY Travel Felt Board and ever popular Homemade Playdough!

03/28/2013

Looking for a last minute Easter basket stuffer? Me too! Honestly, I was looking for an excuse to do a little baby chick photo shoot; and so, inspired by these lacing cards, I made a version that screams spring.

Want to make your own? It's super simple; I've even created free printables (featuring two from our tiny flock, of course). Can you believe the fluffy cheeks on this one?

03/11/2013

As I mentioned before, we are not a screen free family. We do limit screen time, but I find that it can be a useful tool. Ya know, the kind that allows you to take a shower? Or drive long distances? It also lets your little one practice a few valuable skills. Here are our very favorite apps. They meet all of my requirements: free, visually attractive, and educational.

*Update: Since the publish date of this post Endless ABC and Tap a Tune are no longer free. They are however, wonderful apps well worth the money.

I can't say enough good things about this free app. Seriously, it is so freakin' cool. You choose a word and then place the letters on the outlines like a puzzle. When you click on each letter to move them into place, they make the sound of the letter. After the whole word is built, you watch an awesome little animation about it and hear it's description. Oh, and they add new words all the time!

This is an interactive coloring app. It allows little ones to practice pre-writing skills and just plain have fun. You can follow prompts to create squiggles that are then animated. Or, you can make your own creations, complete with cool stickers.

This free music app is great. Little ones can learn to play a song by tapping each animal (note) as they pop up. There is also a free play mode, and an easy mode that plays the song regardless of what you push. Cute visuals and lots of options make this app a winner.

I should note another iPad favorite: free read aloud books from the iTunes library.

I am still looking for a favorite numbers app, anyone have any suggestions? Did I miss your favorite preschooler app?

Wait, not an app for kids fan? Looking for more screen free interaction? A new favorite around here is Tons of Trucks.

If you have a truck lover in your house, this one is not to be missed. Sweet rhymes, adorable illustrations, and something to fiddle with on each page makes it a perfect interactive book for the toddler in your life. It is so catchy Jude has been "reading" it to himself a lot lately. His favorite page is the fire truck (big surprise!). I love the last page, when the trucks go to sleep and you get to peek inside each one to see the little animals getting ready for bed.

Full Disclosure: Sue Fliess, author of Tons of Trucks, was kind enough to send us a copy to review. As always, all opinions are my own.

09/05/2012

My son really prefers to dwell within my personal space at all times, and yet he wants to do everything himself. He's two going on three, it's not uncommon. I'm pretty sure if he could figure out how to be glued to my leg and totally independent at the same time, he would be thrilled. Whilst I love all the snuggles, sometimes I'd like to do something without a very large two-year-old leaning into me with all his might. Many of my efforts to release the static cling have been unsuccessful: cool toys, sensory play, art ... all great, as long as mom is sitting next to him. So I've had to get creative. In case you are looking for some unconventional solo play ideas, I thought I'd share them here. Most of these fall into what Montessori followers would call practical life skills. I call them practical life savers.

What sets these activities apart and makes them intriguing (and engrossing) are that they are "grown up" activities, performed with "grown up" tools. In most cases a step stool or kitchen chair are needed, so use your best judgement; I am usually in the same room with him. Safety first! (Fire helmet optional.)

1. Correspondence.

Jude calls this paying bills. He runs "paperwork" through the typewriter and does a lot of highlighting. I pay my bills online and then pass them on to him for "processing." Someday I hope to create a letter writing station like this one, but for now, the novelty of mom's desk and typewriter seem to be doing the trick.

2. Organizing.

Jude loves to go though things, especially "adult" things. And so "organizing" the pantry was born. First, I stack a number of unbreakable items on the shelf, and then I ask him to grab his stool and get things straightened up. This is especially helpful when I need to get dinner on the table.

3. Watering the garden.

To save water we have a cap on hose time. He can fill several buckets and then use those to water the flowers (and sometimes the concrete). Between the filling of buckets, the transferring to water cans, and the actual watering, this activity buys me some serious free time.

4. Washing dishes.

Or simply washing the sink. Again, water waste is an issue, so once the sink is half full, the faucet goes off. He doesn't wash my best china or anything sharp, but he does a great job rinsing our daily dishes. And if we've beat him to the dishes, the sink can always use a good scrub.

Do you have any good tricks for occupying your little one? Any and all suggestions welcome!

05/21/2012

Jude had out grown the simple sorting game I made him, so I decided to create a more advanced version. Since sorting is an early math activity, I thought it only made sense to turn sorting feathers into counting feathers. And so, this simple counting game was born.

Want to make one?

You'll need:

Colored squares of felt or fabric

Feathers (or pom poms) of coordinating color

Numbers, cut out of felt (or purchased foam numbers)

A container (jar) to hold the feathers and numbers

To make the game:

Choose between three and six colors, depending on how difficult you would like your game to be. Gather/create that many numbers; for my game, I made the numbers 1-4. Add the numbers to the jar/container. Add one feather of one color, two of another, three of another, and so on. The number of feathers for each color can be changed frequently to keep the game challenging and interesting.

To play the game (as with the sorting game, I recommend demonstrating once all the way through first):

1. Lay out the colored squares and sort the feathers, matching them to the colored squares.

2. Once all the feathers are sorted, count the feathers on each square and place the corresponding number on top.

3. Check to see if everything has been matched up correctly.

4. Shout hooray and give yourself a big pat on the back for a job well done!

03/21/2012

Today I am sharing a little post about moss painting over at Make, Do, & Friend. Jude and I made moss paint and then got all Banksy in the backyard. It was so much fun. Seriously, one of the longest activities I've ever seen Jude do, he was super into it. Click here to check it out!

If you are stopping by from Make, Do & Friend welcome, please have a look around. If you like what you see, it's easy to stay in touch via reader, pinterest, or facebook.

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